Ristorante Machiavelli

Lovely light ambiance with big windows, classic jazz soundtrack: ideal for enjoying an early spring dinner. As to dinner, a perfect Caesar: no single component overpowers, balanced but well-dressed, good to take the edge off your hunger if you've forgotten to eat all day. Our pastas (don't sleep on the vegetarian dishes!) were hard to beat, but I'm looking forward to trying the eggplant parmigiana and pizzas. Everyone here seemed like really kind folks, our waiter was an absolute sweetie.

5 stars for service and the overall ambiance 5 stars for the Italian sodas and salads3 stars for the food itselfHubs and I popped by the Saturday after Valentine's Day for our evening out. He has been researching all of the local Italian eateries knowing that I am a gnoochi lover and have been craving it since one of our first Valentine's dinners. Hands down the service is very friendly and we were seated right away - though we arrived early to ensure we weren't waiting too long on purpose. We sort of knew what we wanted ahead of time so that made our ordering a lot faster than usual. The salads came out and were very fresh - hubs added anchovies to his (ick! haha!) and enjoyed his Ceasar very much. Not wanting to drink, we went with Italian sodas, both were very good and exactly what we needed, even if we were going to head over to Molly Moon's after!The mains came flying out after. Hubs very much enjoyed his carbonara while my gnocchi was sadly bland and VERY mushy. the gnocchi held their shape until I tried to eat them, at which point they melted into a goopy, gummy mess. As someone who makes gnocchi from scratch often, it definitely should not goop into a weird wet clay. The sauce was also not right, it seemed too watery, and even with the added cracked pepper and Kraft parmesan (not freshly shredded), there was no flavor.I don't know if it's because of growing up in Chicago or from years of having homemade pasta but yeah - maybe we will be back to try the pizza? At least he enjoyed his pasta and everything else was great.

My Rating Rationale:Even though this establishment claimed to be a Seattle staple, I gave this place 2 stars because it's new and I think they're still trying to find their groove. The ambiance is fine. A bit too liud for me. The staff was cool. But the food was really bad. They need better recipes, fresher ingredients, and/or better back of the house. Why open another Italian Restaurant in Edmonds? Replacing Chantelle's (sp?), an Edmonds staple for as long as I can remember, is but yet, another Italian restaurant. Why?Outside of being a Mexican restaurants, this is likely the last genre Edmonds needed to add. Just on Main Street you have Moto, Mo's, Fire and the Feast, and, heck, I think you can order a pizza at Claire's across the street. So, I assumed that this place must arrogantly (in a good Eula's) have something so different that there is rhyme, reason, and recipes, that justify but yet another Tuscany triumph. They must really know pizza.AMBIENCE:The place was rather packed on a Thursday night. People were chatting in the could be romantic dimmed lighting. Maybe with this energy, my thought of having something a bit different, say, Brazilian, Korean, Vietnamese, Latin, Ethiopian, Indian, or something that focused on Eastern European dishes. That would have been a nice addition and change to the landscape--a palate teaser. But here we are with another place to order a Pizza. The ambiance was much too formal for the quality of food served. Thus it made it awkward and the poor food quality even more pronounced. FOOD:So my friend and I did. We ordered pizza. They were personal, Approximately 11", $17, pies. We both thought they were among the worst pizza we had in years. They were both hard, dry, flavorless, and the featured toppings were just tasteless. I've made Safeway frozen pizza that delivered much better. $2.99 pizza pockets are much better. It was near, but not quite, call Robert Irving quality. I felt bad cause I suggest the place. But sat there wish we were at Fire & the Feast. SERVICE: The female bartender was great. Social and happy. The waiter was cool. The food took a noticeably long time, even though we were able to spend the time chatting. I don't wish bad voodoo on any restaurant. I know they're trying and it's many people's livelihood. But after that meal, I don't know how they can make it for a year. I don't know why anyone would return here. The competition for Italian food in the bowl alone is rough. Pizza you have the much better pizza and Italian establishments on the outer crust of the bowl waiting for you. Not to mention, the other many culinary choices, on Main, 5th, Dayton, 4th, and down between the railroad tracks and salt water sound.There are so many other Edmonds choices, I don't think any of them would disappoint you after this one.

My girlfriend and I had a lovely and quick dinner here. We got here for an early dinner around 5:30 and were quickly seated in the bar section. Glad we got there early because the place was super busy for a weeknight!Service was attentive and friendly. And the food was fantastic, we cleaned our plates! The ambiance was lively and loud but we could still have a private conversation.

knowing full well that lunch service was implemented only a month ago, we were expecting some growing pains, but our disappointment was not with the service but with the food.at 12:15 on a tuesday, Ristorante Machiavelli had maybe 3 tables occupied. we were promptly and cheerfully greeted, seated, and presented with menus. the corner windows in the dining area brightened up the restaurant. the lunch menu is very abbreviated: mostly soups, salads, 3 sandwiches, and assorted pastas at very reasonable prices. the most expensive pasta plate was $13.00.we passed on the $6 macrina bakery bread service.toscano cup of soup $7: the soup had all the necessary ingredients such as sausage, greens, other assorted veggies, beans, but light on the cream, and extremely salty. now, i am a salt-head. my doctor hates me. i use both soy sauce and salt on my eggs. i felt my tongue burn from the salt in the soup.minestrone cup of soup $6: chunky veggies. lots of zucchini and carrots. seemed more like tomato-y veggie soup. pomodoro cup of soup $6: we did not order this but we wondered if this soup is intended to be a placeholder for the highly anticipated return of Chantrelle's famous tomato bisque ?we skipped the sandwiches and went straight for the pasta.spaghetti bolonese: very, very, light sauce consisting of bits of tomato and meat. it was not until we dug into the bottom of the plate of spaghetti, we discovered the rest of (the very light) sauce under the spaghetti that had not been tossed in the kitchen. if it were not for the meat bits, i would have mistaken this pasta plate for a puttanesca that was missing the olives, anchovies, and capers. it was a nice, light sauce but not the robust red-sauce bolognese i'm used to. spinach ravioli: yum! i loved the plentiful mushroom sauce. i wish i had a piece of bread accompanying the plate to sop up the delicious sauce. luckily i still had the spoon from my cup of soup so i was able to spoon the sauce like a soup. there were 5 raviolis swimming in the sauce on my place.carbonara: not available for lunch.the pasta plates were small, even considering the lunch prices and the food looked naked and lonely on the plate. dessert seemed expensive.i would have guessed the service would have been the challenge at lunch, rather than the food.we left hungry.3 stars for cheerful service.

We were so sad to see they closed their Capitol Hill location. It was the first restaurant I ate at after moving to Seattle in 2000 and has been a staple date night location since. Their location in Edmonds is definitely the same menu but different feel, more open, well-lit and simply not as intimate and romantic of a setting. I was happy to see that the recipe for their alfredo is unchanged though I didn't feel the service was up to par as it had been in Seattle. There are absolutely growing pains and we will be back to try them again soon!

Ristorante Machiavelli is one of Seattle's OG Italian restaurants on Capitol Hill since 1988. What brought me there several times was the Spaghetti alla Carbonara per The Stranger's Dan Savage. Looking at that 2017 post, amazing how good ol' inflation reflects on price hikes.When long time restaurant Chanterelle closed in downtown Edmonds, I wondered what would take its place. The vicinity whether downtown, the waterfront, on Hwy 99 has quite the dining scene in the northend. Ristorante Machiavelli decided to give the historical site a refresh and is having their soft opening. Today (12/23/23), all I had was a mocha earlier. No breakfast, lunch, and didn't touch any of the baked goods from my pastry run. Ready for some serious carbs!Downtown Edmonds is festive and lots of foot traffic for the holidays. I'm glad to have snagged one of the 3 hour street parking spots a few blocks away. I was warmly greeted upon entry and seated at a two top by the window which enabled me to people watch with passersby along the sidewalk.No need for reservations and totally casual here. Menu was straightforward with starters, pizza, pasta, beverages, and dessert.I was provided water and bread service. Passed on any apps, salad, or a cocktail. I ordered the Fettucine Carbonara ($20.95) - pasta al dente, generous bacon, very garlicky sauce, and added freshly cracked black pepper and parmesan. Just like I remembered, but fettucine not spaghetti. Bread slices were perfect to sop up the garlicky sauce. Entree was a bit salty for me though. There a bit of a pause waiting for dessert. Dessert was a choice of either cheesecake or a tiramisu chocolate mousse confection. Dessert finally arrived with a fresh fork. I was able to write this review while waiting, lol. The ladyfingers would be better if soaked in espresso or marsala...kind of crunchy. Saw via bill, this dessert was called Diplomatico ($12). Yikes, but sizable and easily shareable.I noticed this place was packed since I arrived 90 minutes ago, both the bar and main dining area. Good sign.You'd never think this was a soft opening just yesterday. Service and atmosphere was mostly seamless. Contactless payment, paid via QR code. I took screenshots just in case though of this transaction.Not a 5, just 3.5 rounded to a 4*kind of forgotten as a solo diner*salty entree*water never refilled*long pause between entree and dessert *dessert initially served without a fork*no offer of coffee service*pricey dessert with crunchy ladyfingersCheers to another dining option in the northend. Welcome to Edmonds, Ristorante Machiavelli!

I'm a long time customer of Machiavelli. Although our beloved Cap Hill closed, they are thriving in Edmonds. I've been for dinner but have just recently gone for brunch. Delicious and can't wait to go back. Staff is so kind and welcoming. My hash was fantastic as were the ricotta pancakes. The pancakes are quite small though and considered getting them as more of an appetizer. Everything was fantastic though. Check them out!

Love this place! Great service, friendly staff. I highly recommend. Remember, no reservations! First come, first serve...Great menu and yummy bloody mary.

We have been here 4-5 times and every time I'm hoping it improves. Sorry to say It doesn't...this review is not intended to cause any harm to the restaurant. Instead I hope you read it and make the changes you need to make.1. Service is excellent the food is not.2. Please change your recipes and serve authentic Italian cuisine. Not one of your menu items are even close to authentic. Italians don't out guyer cheese in fettuccine Alfredo...3. Your portions are pathetically small. Raise your prices and charge what you must in order to serve good authentic Italian food with good size portions. Edmonds patrons will support prices that reflect quality and good size portions.Please do some research and improve your food. Please.